Just installed a set of Carbotech front rotors from SubyDude. Went on great. After taking them out for a "check" around the block to make sure all is good and well, when I pulled into my garage I could smell something. Sure enough there was smoke wafting from the wheel wells. Not a lot of smoke, but a little - enough to make me start a new thread here.

Anyone have any idea what could cause this??

 

it could be you breaking the pads in. Thats just a thought. How hard were you running on them?

 

Wait for 24 hours take some break cleaner to all the rotors and call me in the morning

WRX Rush

 

Thanks WRX Rush, worked like a charm. It turns out that the rotors were shipped with some sort of chemical coating that was supposed to be washed off before the install.

Apparrently most rotors have this coating, and should be washed before being installed.

 

Yes that is very true, also sometimes when the rotor has a real bad bite (or rough/ sharp edge) the brakes will smoke until it rounds off those sharp edges and smooths out those rough spots. Cheers

WRX Rush

 

I just encountered the same thing... I installed new drilled/slotted front rotors (zinc plated) and EBC greenstuff pads a few days ago. I took it easily around the block to test that everything was working properly... the only thing I noticed was a faint, constant, high-pitched metallic ringing/scraping sound. Today I broke in my pads, and after the first few 60-5mph stops, I checked on them and they were smokin' and stinkin'. It went away in less than 30 sec, so I took it easy around the city streets for a while, checked 'em, and noticed that the zinc plating was more than 50% worn off where the pad touches. I did some more hard braking, and by now the ringing sound was gone, and no more smoking or stinking since then. I was worried initially by the noise/smoke/stink, but not so much anymore- (now that I read this post -thanks for sharing the info)

Would anyone recommend cleaning the rotors again with brake cleaner?

 

HAHAHA [chuckleing] I had the same thing happen while bedding them in. The looks on peoples' faces where great when stinky grey smoke came billowing out of my fenders and I would just nod to them.

The pads and rotors are coated with some anti-corrosion junk that should burn off quickly. Let it cool and spray some brakcleaner and some water on them and they should be fine. Also, if you hear a hissing noise, that seems normal too, I went ahead and bent the wear indicators back too as a preventative measure.

Enjoy your new stopping abilities.

 

Aww.. I thought this was gonna be one of those cool threads where you tell us after drving down a mountain, like Pikes Peak, or after a day at the track your brakes just kept on smoking... Glad you found the cure though and for sharing.

Mine smoked too.. but that was during a day at the track... whoa horsey!